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Upper Elementary Ala Carte Menu

Starting September 26th 2018, Food Service will be offering ala carte items for the students to purchase during lunch time at Ferndale Upper Elementary.
Here is a list of items that will be available:

Goldfish Cheddar Crackers $.75

Elf Chocolate Graham Crackers $.75

Honey Bunny Graham Crackers $1.00

White Cheddar Popcorn $1.00

Cheddar Sun Chips $1.00

If students have a negative balance on their account they will not be allowed to purchase an item.
Students must have money at point of service or money on their account. If a student pays for an item and change is needed, the change will be put on their account.

A Letter from the New Food Service Director

Dear Ferndale Elementary Parents & Staff,

Greetings! My name is Carrie Hall. I work with Chartwells Dining Services, and I am your NEW Food Service Director. I am very excited to be working with Ferndale Schools.

Our goal is to provide Healthy and Nutritious meals that the students will enjoy eating!

We have a new menu that we are sending out and want to take a few moments to explain some of the
new & exciting menu items we will be implementing.

First, you will see we will have a special food focus very month where we will introduce new Fruit and
Vegetables to the students, along with Educational time and sampling of new items. We will also have
an area in the cafeteria that will showcase all the information regarding our food focus of the month,
along with some fun activites for the students.

Second, your student will have 4 different choices to choose from every day: your main entrée that is
listed for that date along with the three daily choices that are listed on the bottom of menu.

Free/Reduced Meals FAQ

WHO CAN GET FREE OR REDUCED PRICE MEALS?

All children in households receiving benefits from Food Assistance Program (FAP), Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservations (FDPIR) or Family Independence Program (FIP), are eligible for free meals.

Foster children that are under the legal responsibility of a foster care agency or court are eligible for free meals.

Children participating in their school’s Head Start program are eligible for free meals.

Children who meet the definition of homeless, runaway, or migrant are eligible for free meals.

Children may receive free or reduced price meals if your household’s income is within the limits on the Federal Income Eligibility Guidelines. Your children may qualify for free or reduced price meals if your household income falls at or below the limits on this chart.

Federal Income Eligibility Chart for School Year 2018-19

Household size

Yearly

Monthly

Weekly

1

22,459

1,872

432

2

30,451

2,538

586

3

38,443

3,204

740

4

46,435

3,870

893

5

54,427

4,536

1,047

6

62,419

5,202

1,201

7

70,411

5,868

1,355

8

78,403

6,534

1,508

Each additional person:

7,992

666

154

HOW DO I KNOW IF MY CHILDREN QUALIFY AS HOMELESS, MIGRANT, OR RUNAWAY?

Do the members of your household lack a permanent address? Are you staying together in a shelter, hotel, or other temporary housing arrangement? Does your family relocate on a seasonal basis? Are any children living with you who have chosen to leave their prior family or household? If you believe children in your household meet these descriptions and haven’t been told your children will get free meals, please call or e-mail Dina Rocheleau (248) 856-8700, dina.rocheleau@ferndaleschools.org, Homeless liaison, to see if you qualify.

DO I NEED TO FILL OUT AN APPLICATION FOR EACH CHILD?

No. Use one Free and Reduced Price School Meals Application for all students in your household. We cannot approve an application that is not complete, so be sure to fill out all required information. Return the completed application to:
Carrie Hall
881 Pinecrest Dr.
Ferndale, MI 48220

SHOULD I FILL OUT AN APPLICATION IF I RECEIVED A LETTER THIS SCHOOL YEAR SAYING MY CHILDREN ARE ALREADY APPROVED FOR FREE MEALS?

No, but please read the letter you got carefully and follow the instructions. If any children in your household were missing from your eligibility notification, contact Carrie Hall at carrie.hall@ferndaleschools.org, (248) 586-8703 immediately.

CAN I APPLY ONLINE?

Yes! You are encouraged to complete an online application instead of a paper application if you are able. The online application has the same requirements and will ask you for the same information as the paper application. Visit mistar.oakland.k12.mi.us/Ferndale/FSOnline/Main/Login to begin or to learn more about the online application process. Contact Carrie Hall (248) 586-8703, carrie.hall@ferndaleschools.org. If you have any questions about the online application.

MY CHILD’S APPLICATION WAS APPROVED LAST YEAR. DO I NEED TO FILL OUT A NEW ONE?

Yes. Your child’s application is only good for that school year and for the first few days of this school year, through 10/15/2018. You must send in a new application unless the school told you that your child is eligible for the new school year. If you do not send in a new application that is approved by the school or you have not been notified that your child is eligible for free meals, your child will be charged the full price for meals.

I GET WIC. CAN MY CHILDREN GET FREE MEALS?

Children in households participating in WIC may be eligible for free or reduced price meals. Please send in an application.

WILL THE INFORMATION I GIVE BE CHECKED?

Yes. We may also ask you to send written proof of the household income you report.

IF I DON’T QUALIFY NOW, MAY I APPLY LATER?

Yes, you may apply at any time during the school year. For example, children with a parent or guardian who becomes unemployed may become eligible for free and reduced price meals if the household income drops below the income limit.

WHAT IF I DISAGREE WITH THE SCHOOL’S DECISION ABOUT MY APPLICATION?

You should talk to school officials. You also may ask for a hearing by calling or writing to:
Nancy Hoover
Business Services
(248) 586-8600nancy.hoover@ferndaleschools.org

MAY I APPLY IF SOMEONE IN MY HOUSEHOULD IS NOT A U.S. CITIZEN?

Yes. You, your children, or other household members do not have to be U.S. citizens to apply for free or reduced price meals.

WHAT IF MY INCOME IS NOT ALWAYS THE SAME?

List the amount that you normally receive. For example, if you normally make $1000 each month, but you missed some work last month and only made $900, put down that you made $1000 per month. If you normally get overtime, include it, but do not include it if you only work overtime sometimes. If you have lost a job or had your hours or wages reduced, use your current income.

WHAT IF SOME HOUSEHOLD MEMBERS HAVE NO INCOME TO REPORT?

Household members may not receive some types of income we ask you to report on the application, or may not receive income at all. Whenever this happens, please write a 0 in the field. However, if any income fields are left empty or blank, those will also be counted as zeroes. Please be careful when leaving income fields blank, as we will assume you meant to do so.

WE ARE IN THE MILITARY, DO WE REPORT OUR INCOME DIFFERENTLY?

Your basic pay and cash bonuses must be reported as income. If you get any cash value allowances for off-base housing, food, or clothing, it must also be included as income. However, if your housing is part of the Military Housing Privatization Initiative, do not include your housing allowance as income. Any additional combat pay resulting from deployment is also excluded from income.

WHAT IF THERE ISN’T ENOUGH SPACE ON THE APPLICATION FOR MY FAMILY?

List any additional household members on a separate piece of paper, and attach it to your application. Contact Carrie Hall (248) 586-8703, carrie.hall@ferndaleschools.org to receive a second application.

MY FAMILY NEEDS MORE HELP. ARE THERE OTHER PROGRAMS WE MIGHT APPLY FOR?

To find out how to apply for Food Assistance Program (FAP) or other assistance benefits, contact your local assistance office or call 1-855-275-6424.

Forms

Free & Reduced Lunch Guidelines

Are you not sure if your students qualify for Free or Reduced Lunch? This chart will give you an idea of whether or not you will qualify. If you are still unsure, please file for benefits to make a final determination.

Online

Print

Account Balance RoboCalls

Effective Monday, December 18th, 2017 the district will begin sending automated phone messages when your student’s balance falls below $5.00. Outstanding balances can be paid by logging into your student’s MiStar account or by cash or check.